My Not So Guilty Pleaure

I'm completely and utterly addicted to Desert Island Discs. (Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd write!) In case you don't know, it's that programme on Radio 4 that my Ma listens to. The one where someone outstanding in their field has to choose the 8 records they would take with them if they were to be cast away on a desert island, and the reasons for their choices. Along with Women's Hour and The Archers, she's been urging me to tune in for years.
 Now, I'll be honest with you- I've kinda always resisted, desperately clinging to the fantasy that Radio 4 was too old for me. Oh yes, I may have quietly left Radio 1 years ago, sidestepping seamlessly into Radio 2, but Radio 4? Surely not.
I've been known to turn it on occasionally. Usually in response to a pinging text message from Herself, brusquely ordering me to 'Turn on Women's Hour right now!'. Then afterwards, she inevitably follows up with a phonecall to see what I thought/check that I was listening. Winging it is not an option. Recently she rang me saying 'Put on Desert island Discs, she's that gay one on you like, that one who tells you what to wear naked!' Turns out it was it was Gok Wan. (and I  DO so so love him)
But then recently, my good friend Jennifer, who used to live in Glenavy, but now lives in sunny California (I simply can't understand why!),confided that SHE  loves D I D and downloads the lot as podcasts. Well, I could deny it no longer- she's actually a few years younger than me, terribly smart and generally all round cool- so wasting no more time, I popped onto the Radio 4 website and downloaded my first ever podcasts....and I'm absolutely LOVING them.
Usually on my morning walks, or on the rare occasions I'm in the car alone,  I listen to my iPod playlists (such as the imaginatively named like 'Emma's Music to weep quietly to' and 'PMT Songbook' )whereas now, I'm  hearing all sorts of interesting people talk about their lives and listening to their (much better!) music choices. This week alone I've heard Alfie Boe, Martin Clunes, Craig Brown, Mary Berry, Martina Navratilova, John Bishop, Tim Minchin, Sir David Attenborough, Brian Cox, Bear Grylis, Tom Jones and Cath Kidson. And whether I'm a fan or not, I take something inspirational away from every single one.
And just between you and me, I think I may have developed a bit of a girl crush on the show's presenter Kirsty Young- that deep voice, her calm way of drawing someone out, the way she's clearly done her homework on each and every one, that deep voice....
So it looks like I'm a born again Radio 4 convert, doesn't it? Next thing you know I'll be extolling how the Archers is much more sizzling than the new Dallas. (Erm, on second thoughts, possibly not...) But now I'm afraid it's time to love you and leave you... Martin Sheen and our Kirsty are waiting, you know!